Mumbai, April 17 Maharashtra Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal said on Friday that a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Agri-Business undergraduate courses will be launched at the National Institute of Post-Harvest Technology (NIPHT) in Pune.
This will be done with an objective of developing trained and capable manpower for the cooperative and marketing sector.
He also added that the undergraduate course has been approved by the Tribhuvan Cooperative University, and admissions for 60 seats will begin from the academic year 2026–27.
The Minister was speaking at a review meeting of the NIPHT held at Mantralaya.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary of Cooperation and Marketing Praveen Darade, Joint Secretary Vijay Lahane, Executive Director of Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board Sanjay Kadam, NIPHT's Director Milind Akare, MAGNET Project Director Vinayak Kokare, Additional Project Director Amol Yadav, and other officials.
Minister Rawal said that this new course will help produce trained youth for sectors such as cooperation, agri-processing, market management, supply chain, agri-industry, and rural entrepreneurship.
"There is a growing need for youth with modern management skills in the marketing and cooperative sectors, and NIPHT should provide quality training in line with global technologies."
He also instructed that various training programmes be conducted throughout the year.
"The Tribhuvan Cooperative University has approved this course for a duration of three years with an intake capacity of 60 students, thereby opening new avenues in agri-business management for students in Maharashtra," the Minister said.
On this occasion, the Marketing Minister also directed that the NIPHT be developed into a world-class training centre.
"A detailed development plan should be prepared through the Asian Development Bank, and short-term courses related to agri-business should be introduced while upgrading institutional facilities," he said.
Minister Rawal also added that women from self-help groups in the state will be roped in processing industries to enhance the value addition of agricultural produce.
He also said that seminars should be organised with the participation of experts from the agriculture sector, and that special training programmes should be conducted in view of the growing demand in the seed production sector.
The Minister assured that the state government will extend all necessary support for the expansion of the institute and the enhancement of its facilities.
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